Can I get an Honors Program job if I am not a Democrat?

DOJ doesn't pay shit. Why do you want to work for the [black] "man"?

I drive a Dodge Stratus.

-DOJ SECURE

"Feel free to discuss..." Thanks Elie, the discussion in the comments is generally limited to authorized topics, such as your moobs and typos.

5 - This is not an Elie post, it's by Lat (whose threads usually stick to the assigned topic - see the small law firm open threads Lat has been doing).

2 -- no, you can't. You're per se racist, according to the administration.

Did any federalists get interviews?

Can we get a running list of which components have definitely sent interview requests, I haven't heard much regarding crim and civ rights.

I was accepted into the DOJ Honors program but I hate puppies.

Mike Vickles

If you do not hear from DOJ today, are you definitely not selected?

We need to bomb Democrats back to the stoneage!
-DOJ Secure

Why does the Obama Administration even need a justice department? Aren't laws basically meaningless and we're free to do whatever the hell we please?

DOJ is a much better option than some firms. I posted this on another thread, but repeat it here:

I have now seen so many posts about MCDERMOTT, WILL and EMERY.

That firm seems to be a rat hole, with no compassion for its associates as all. I am glad to have turned down an offer there. In fact, everyone should turn down their offers there.

They appear to have no compassion for their summer associates. They haven't given them offers yet. They lowered the summer associate pay AFTER THE SUMMERS SHOWED UP, with no prior notice.

People like this are not worth working for. They will continue to be a sub-par firm, because they do not understand that their worker bees are the future of their firm, and that the quality of their associates is now going to plummet because the talent is going elsewhere.

Go to DOJ if you have the chance. Go into public interest. Go into government work. Do something good for your community. Do anything.

But DO NOT accept a job offer at the sorry McDermott Will and Emery.

Federalist with libertarian non-profit work experience here.

No interview.

Anyone want to join my class-action?

this is totally racist, but I read comment 12 in the voice of the Geico caveman

first!

15 - But what were your credentials - law school, GPA, journal membership, etc.?

DOJ -- OK for a couple years, but depressing for any longer than that.

9, in past years, interview notifications have gone out over the course of a few days. I have no information about what is happening this year, but if today was the day that all notifications were supposed to happen, it's certainly within the realm of possibility that some components haven't yet sent out notifications, and it's not inconceivable that some interview requests will continue to trickle out early next week.

I got my interview selection notice on Wednesday and my specific Component email on Thursday. If you did not receive these emails, then you were NOT selected.

A heard that several illiterate firemen received interviews. I believe they used Sotomayor as reference.

Anyone get more than one component interview? Rumor was it that this year, due to the sheer number of applications, you would realistically only get an interview from your 1st perference.

DOJ to $158,000?

Does anyone know how many people they usually invite to interview? Has anyone else gotten an interview for the crim division?

21- Which component? I got one for civil, but was wondering if there could be others still coming.

any word on the antitrust division?

Crim has sent out its interview offers.

28- did they do this yesterday?

Anyone hear from civil rights?

23:

Yeah, I got 2. Tax (Civil) and UST. I think I ranked them as my 1st and 2nd choices though.

23- I've only gotten one so far, and it was my 2d choice

The current DOJ is nothing more than an extension of the American Communist Party, ObamaMania, and the NAACP.

29: Yes.

Did anyone hear from the Office of Immigration Litigation yet?

Just curious- for those who received interviews, what schools are you all from?

Is the consensus that crim won't send out any more notifications, then?

Will Civil notify interviewees of which sections within the division are interviewing them?

15: I'm a Federalist as well, and graduated from law school last year. I didn't get selected for DOJ. However, I work elsewhere in the government now, and started at premium to what DOJ would offer.

It might be frustrating, but DOJ is not the only place in the Federal government to work. It's a rough market, but keep your head up and ears open. Network as best you can. Make sure your prior experience shines, as many Feg agencies do consider that even when it is non-legal in nature.

I am from a Tier 2 night school grad, though, which might as well be a TTT around here.

#38 -- I certainly hope so...

2 interviews- civil (1st) & EOIR (4th)

T14, top 1/3, 2dry jrnl

No gov exp, no political boshit

Scared my offer from this summer will evaporate after it is too late

Expanding a little bit on #20, DoJ really isn't any different from any other job. You don't know you've been rejected until they reject you. Are you in a better spot if you hear earlier? Other things being equal, yes, but other things frequently aren't equal.

41-- can you explain your last sentence?

14 - suck it.

MWE SECURE

do any clerks want to talk about whether they received offers? 2 year district court clerk here considering applying next fall after my first year of clerking

F*** BIG LAW ... they kept us waiting forever, just to recscing offers ... now we can't even apply to DOJ Honors becuase they only want 3Ls ... no graduates allowed.

F*** BIG LAW ... they kept us waiting forever, just to recscind offers ... now we can't even apply to DOJ Honors becuase they only want 3Ls ... no graduates allowed.

Hey guys.

DOJ CANNOT be as competitive as people are making it out to be. I know two girls (non urm) at my GULC/NW/CORNELL who got interviews and were barely above median, one with no journal, and none w/ govt exp. But maybe it depends on component.

Or do they give interviews to anyone who meets "minimal qualifications"?

33--

I'm sorry to let you know this, but in case you haven't heard...Obama is not a communist.

The fact that he is willing to listen to insurance companies at all conclusively shows that he's not even a socialist.

In any case, you are on the losing side...at least for the moment. Obama won the election in a landslide, thanks to your do-nothing Republican friends who always wait to talk about any major issue until right before election time.

At the very least, President Obama (that's right...all you patriotic conservatives need to come to grips with the fact the he's your president now...the symbol of the United States to the world) is trying to do something.

Even better, he's trying to do something positive: counter-balance the system we have which leaves the lower classes out in the cold, while redistributing wealth continually upward.

It's a beautiful thing, even if it does not go far enough.

Any current Presidential Manangement Fellows get interview notices yet. Anyone know how they normally do in this process.

This is useful post to ask this question. I recently interviewed with SDNY. Does SDNY give a lot of first round AUSA interviews. Any insight is appreciated. (PS, I'm not a 3L...I have a couple years of experience).

Top 25% at a T5. Prior Civil division and SDNY US Attorney’s office internships. No interviews.

I am top of class.

49- I think you're on to something. I knew a girl in law school, top 50% of class, not LR, dumb as bricks, who got an interview with immigration. She didn't get the job though.

41:

Maybe my memory is wrong, but I remember that the DOJ application had a box to check, indicating that you would withdraw from the DOJ application process if you had accepted an offer of employment from elsewhere. I know this would be almost impossible to enforce (and I can't remember whether it was a required check-off), but you might want to look back at your online app to see if you checked off that box.

49- I think you're on to something. I knew a girl in law school, top 50% of class, not LR, dumb as bricks, who got an interview with immigration. She didn't get the job though.

Got dinged. My essays were great, my grades were great. At this point, I simply don't know what more the DOJ wanted of me.

Oh well. I could always strive to be prosecuted by them, so as to taste a brief moment of stolen glory.

58: By "dinged", do you just didn't get a notice re: an interview, or did you actually get some sort of rejection letter/email?

Oops, sorry for the typo. Meant to post:

By "dinged", do you mean you didn't get a notice regarding an interview, or did you actually get some sort of rejection letter/email?

50, I don't think the word "landslide" means what you think it means. Sorry try again.

If you want to look at landslides, compare 2008 with the results in 1984, 1972, or even 1980.

Btw, remember in 2005 when liberals were still complaining about how Bush wasn't their president? And how dissent used to be the highest form of patriotism?

Have any Honors Program applicants had difficulty reviewing their applications on the suddenly completely different Avue website? I went back to look at my application today to find that they totally reworked the website and that a lot of my information seems to have disappeared. Has anyone had a similar experience?

(As should be obvious, no interview offers for me yet).

I am a day laborer. Can I get job at DOJ?

echoing others, has anyone heard from civil rights? I got a civil callback, but I am assuming because I got that and not civil rights the civil rights offers also went out?

Couple questions:

(1) Out of all the sections in the crim division that participate in the honors program, which offers the best litigation opportunities?

(2) How easy is it for a crim division honors attorney to get placement in a US attorney's office?

(3) What is the contract commitment for doj honors participants? Two to three years, depending on the division?

(4) Prior to the economic downturn, what were the lateral prospects for honors attorneys?

COA clerk here, got an interview in civil

@51:

I'm a first year PMF, so I can't share any insight. I'll be applying next cycle, though, so I hope someone else here chimes in with their results.

Got US Trustee. Any tips?

Anyone heard back from ENRD?

61--

Unfortunately for your argument re: dissent and Bush, I agree. But the conservatives DID NOT agree with the liberals back then.

Does your stance depend only upon who is president?

If the conservatives had agreed back then, they would have a more principled stance. Instead, you all put forth rally-around-the-flag, be-a-great-American arguments that suddenly no longer have one smidgeon of importance.

My argument is based on your criteria...not my own.

As for whether or not the election was a landslide...I'll just go ahead and continue to take 53%, and 365 Electoral votes as, at the very least, a strong indicator of the preference of this country at the time (Right in between the 58% and 50.7% of your 1984 and 1980 landslide elections, respectively).

56:

Offer in hand =/= acceptance

-41

I miss Godzuki. Where are you, Godzuki?

Top 20%, LR Assoc. Editor, Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Curia, Presidential Management Fellow, Public Interest Volunteer Work, Military Veteran, BUT....T4 School.

No interviews - Dang, what does a person have to do?

Have to agree with 61. I'm a pretty big political news junkie and I have NEVER heard any commentator call Obama's election a landslide. 61 mentioned great examples of what has previously been considered a landslide election. I also don't like it when respect or disrespect for the office of president depends on who's holding it. For example, President Obama never called President Bush "President Bush." It was always or mostly "Bush" or "Mr. Bush."

What's the general impression on prospects for COA clerks applying to DOJ-honors? I'm clerking COA next year, but I'm really interested in applying after that. I'm guessing that I'm about 50-50 for at least an interview (T14, top 10%, LR), but maybe that's a bit optimistic?

73: Order of the Curia???? WTF is that? What do you have to do to get an interview? Go to a school that is not T4.

73: Order of the Curia???? WTF is that? What do you have to do to get an interview? Go to a school that is not T4.

73: Order of the Curia???? WTF is that? What do you have to do to get an interview? Go to a school that is not T4.

77 -- don't make fun of me Order of the Curia is more prestigious than your "order of the queef" or whatever you call it.

79: Do you seriously think that Order of the Curia (requirement 3.0 GPA) is more prestigious than Order of the Coif (requirement top 10%)?????

I've never even heard of Order of the Curia.

Anyone hear from NSD yet?

81: Order of the Curia is an organization for schools that aren't good enough to have an Order of the Coif chapter.

If you are selected for job with Civil Division, how long is the commitment?

83, I had no idea. Learn something everyday.

I was reading about Order of the Coif on wikipedia. It looks like there are also some school that are too good for the Order of the Coif. For example, Harvard and Columbia aren't members.

- 81

74--

Fox News will not call the election a landslide, I'm afraid.

If you'd like, I'll rephrase. I'll call it a "mandate," as you all did in 2004, when President Bush received 50.7% of the vote, and 286 electoral votes.

Either way, the country's preference was clear.

Also...the use of the word "never"...especially when capitalized like "NEVER" shows how simplistic your conservative mind is.

President Obama indeed referred to President Bush as "President," even when disagreeing with him, I'm afraid.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3941633.ece (“The President’s extraordinary politicisation of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally, Israel.”)

We need to bomb Order of the Coif back to the stoneage!

-DOJ Secure

Criminal = requires 3 yr commitment
Civil Rights = no commitment
Civil = ?

70/86,

In 1972, the loser got 17 electoral votes (1 state) and 38% of the popular vote.
In 1980, the loser got 44 electoral votes (6 states) and 41%.
In 1984, the loser got 13 electoral votes (1 state) and 41%.

In 2008, John McCain got 173 electoral votes (22 states) and 46%. I guess only Fox News would see the difference here.

86, Why don't we stop with the name calling? If you re-read what I wrote, the "NEVER" (all caps) was referring to my own observation that I had never seen a commentator on CNN, Fox, or MSNBC call Obama's election a landslide. Also, if you re-read my comment, I said that President Obama either "always or mostly" called President Bush simply "Bush" or "Mr. Bush." I concede that you'll be able to find some counterexamples to my claim. So, when you're going to insult someone's intelligence, you should make sure to have everything perfect in your attack. Otherwise, you don't look so good. I'm also not a conservative.

-74

Hi, 2L here, applied to the Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) for the 2L summer. We have *similar* dates, but not quite the same--Key Dates page says late September for reviewing applications ends.

Any 2Ls out there that applied and have heard? I have heard nothing yet...

91, I also applied for SLIP. Nothing yet.

90--

"For example, President Obama never called President Bush 'President Bush.'"

And yes, I realize the capitalization came before, with respect to something else. I was just making fun of you.

"always or mostly"???

It's either "always" or "mostly," not both. That statement doesn't make sense, so I preferred to go with your unambiguous statement posted above.

89--

The label means little to me. We'll go with "mandate," if you'd prefer.

The main point is that the nation's preference is clear, as I posted above.

Does anyone have any comments for transitioning from clerkship to DOJ honors?

Ditto, 95. Unfortunately, I forgot my handgun, so we're out of luck fighting the thread hijackers.

-75

90--

Upon reflection...you are correct. I should not have said simplistic. That was not very nice of me.

I apologize.

I would avoid using such concrete words in the future, however, to avoid confusion.

An apologetic Plebe...

93, When the unambiguous statement isn't referring to the same subject-matter, that's taking things out of context. And, yes, "always or mostly" does make sense. It's a choice, meaning, President Obama either always called President Bush just "Bush" or "Mr. Bush." Or, if not always, he "mostly" did. It's arguing in the alternative. If I said he "always AND mostly," I would agree with you - you can't have both at the same time.

- 74

I went to a T14 school, top 20%, moot court but no journal, coming off a clerkship

no interviews.

can someone answer 65's questions?

- not 65.

What percentage of people with interviews wind up getting offers?

FWIW, I went to a T10 school that doesn't rank, LR, order of coif, dc & coa clerkship, externship at a USAO and got a civil interview (but haven't heard from others)

Civil has no commitment. Tax commitment is 4 years. Crim's commitment is 3 years, BUT you adhere to that commitment as long as you work somewhere in DOJ (so if you transitition to a USAO you are not violating your committment -- this is not true in, for example, Tax).

Within Crim, Fraud does a lot of litigating -- but be prepared to travel a lot and have late nights.

Can we please leave the political rants out? Seriously...

Has someone heard from each component?

Safe to say 100 comments and not a single constructive comment.

Lat -- could we have a thread about people making the transition from clerkships to DOJ

91: I applied to SLIP last year and got an interview. Their dates are later than the Honors Program dates.

98--

But the sentence before is not ambiguous, and does not contain the qualifier mostly.

You simply cannot have it both ways. Either you argue in the alternative, or you do not.

104--

I agree. Political rants are not helpful to this blog. However, once one begins, in which the President is falsely labeled a communist...I feel the need to speak up.

I'm surprised others have not.

Is it true that ALL notifications have been sent out as well as ALL rejections? What about those with no notice one way or the other?

109- I don't think all rejections have gone out. From my understanding, those don't go out until much later.

Current clerk. 2nd year trying (as a 3L and now while clerking)...no interviews. Top 10%, 2nd journal, lots of gov work, blah blah blah. I have no idea what they want.

Top 5% at T50. Got an interview with tax.

Anyone else have an application status that says selected for an interview? Mine changed to that yesterday, but I haven't received the interview email yet.

113- mine changed to selected for interview, but i got the interview email. very interesting!

113-have you checked your spam folder? i think i had an avue email go to my gmail spam folder.

115-I did check it. I know another person at my school was in the same situation yesterday, but I wanted to see if it was a widespread issue or if it's some kind of computer glitch and I actually did not get an interview.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT IS UP WITH THE ANTITRUST DIVISION?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!

Ditto 117. And the environmental division as well.

117- I didn't apply to it, but from what I've heard, they have sent out interview emails.

111- did you actually get an email ding ?

Anyone hear from the National Security Division?

118, ENRD's emails are already out.

117 here, thanks 118,119 for the reply.

im still holding out hope...

113-Nevermind, just got the email from DEA.

124- congrats! good to know that some emails are still going out. was this your first email?

So it seems like if your status didn't change on avue you're not getting an email.

Top 20%, T50, no journal - interview with Civil

My status says "complete." Called avue to see if it had been received by DOJ and they said it didn't look as if they'd viewed it yet. Doesn't make sense---i met all of the eligibility requirements (two federal clerkships, one appellate, etc. etc.) Any insight?

I go to Catholic and am in the top 12% of my class. I'm not on a journal, but I've participated it several moot court exercises. I got an interview with Criminal.

125- yes it was my first one...128-my status said forwarded to components until yesterday when it changed to selected for interview, I remember when I applied as a 2L that it changed to not selected or something like that.

Any info on Office of the Solicitor General?

The status of my application says: Complete; under status of vacancy it says: no selection made. Does that mean = ding?

128: that's disturbing. Mine says complete, too. Man.

132- go to your status in a different way. from the home page, on the right side, click application status. it should show you something different

133 here...Using 134's method, mine says "sent to DOJ." Anyone else's say that?

Oh -- I see: it says "Application received by DOJ"

135 - my status says "Application received by DOJ", same thing?

129- wow, congrats. i'm a little surprised i didn't get an interview in crim comparing my stats to yours. that's awesome, though.

by the way, 135 here:

HYS, about average last year, transfer from T14 school in top 5%, board of 2dary journal, prestigious firm, white house counsel's office internship this past summer, RA experience, clinical experience

I was top 20 at a T25 and got an interview for the tax division. I'm currently an LLM in tax but I got antitrust interview last year and didn't get an offer.

135- mine said "received by doj" for a while, then changed to "referred to components," then changed to "selected for interview"

137, yeah, sorry, same thing.

FWIW, my avue status still says 'no selection made.' But I did get an e-mails on Wednesday and Thuesday telling me I was selected and for what components.

Anyone hear about civil rights yet?

this avuedigital leaves much to be desired

do they ever stagger interview invites -- i mean some people appear to have gotten outright rejections. does that mean there is hope for those of us without any news?

Mine says "received by doj." I am a current clerk ('09 Grad). Top 50, top 10%. Radio silence on the interview front....

Here's my thought knowing nothing very little about how this process actually works. There is initial first round screen. If you make it past that, it goes to the "components" (divisions). Then the divisions figure out if they want to interview you. This would explain some of the discrepency in the status messages. Any one have any thoughts? (or actually know how the process works??)

lol @147 me too (07 grad, three clerkships, including COA)

lol @147 me too (07 grad, COA clerkship)

I don't think anyone has gotten outright rejections. DOJ website says rejections don't come out until October. If you haven't gotten an email (or at least an avuedigital update) stating you were selected for an interview, it is probably all over for you. I received an email (and my avuedigital status changed) on Wednesday. I received my components yesterday in an email. If you are still 'recieved by DOJ' or 'transfered to components' or 'complete' you have probably not been selected. Sorry.

I don't think anyone has gotten outright rejections. DOJ website says rejections don't come out until October. If you haven't gotten an email (or at least an avuedigital update) stating you were selected for an interview, it is probably all over for you. I received an email (and my avuedigital status changed) on Wednesday. I received my components yesterday in an email. If you are still 'recieved by DOJ' or 'transfered to components' or 'complete' you have probably not been selected. Sorry.

anyone here anything about antitrust?

Yeah 151, we know. We got rejected. We're just trying to figure out how the process works and why there are 8 different status messages on the website.

151- Just to be curious, if we got selected for an interview and have heard from at least one component, do you think there is any chance that more may be added?

I think the only status message that matters is the one you get when you click on the Application Status button on the right hand side of the home page. I got an interview but my status on the main page still just says completed, and the no selection made when you click on completed just means they haven't hired anyone yet.

after obsessive-compulsive monitoring of the internet comments since wednesday, here are the facts as I understand them.

Some emails went out wednesday, followed by component emails (predominantly from civil division) on thursday.

At least some DEA, EOIR, tax, Antitrust and US trustees emails have gone out.

No one has reported hearing from Civil Rights.

People who received interview emails had statuses that said either "forwarded to components" OR "received by DOJ."

At least one person has reported hearing nothing until today, when they received an interview email.

call me naive, i'm keeping hope alive.

157- I like your enthusiasm!

Sorry for the late comment. I rarely comment on ATL. Anyways, I received notice of an interview on Wednesday for civil rights.

and with that, my ship has sailed.

at least I can get some work done now.

157.

I love the smugness of commenters like 151/152 (and the adulation by lemming groupies, e.g., 155),

You think that because you received an offer, you know more about the timing and mechanics of the entire process? You do realize that the components make separate hiring decisions and likely do so on completely different time tables (though, within the deadlines set by OAR). Of course, you might be right. But, I'd check your supreme powers of deduction ("because it happened to me, therefore . . . . ") at the door before your interview.

How likely is it for an a person who
is interviewed to get an offer? Can any past honors program people give insight into this?

And I love how 161 thinks that just because we are looking for more opinions as to what others think about the process means that we automatically assume that their resposnes are correct.

Life is tough being a COA clerk, holding two V10 offers, and a DOJ Honors interview. Ah how I love options

If you're at a good school (T14), as long as you don't have any Cs, you'll get an honors interview. Non-T14, I think you have to have pretty solid grades and at least a journal to land an interview.

165 is wrong- that may be true in most years about T-14 students. I went to Northwestern, finished top 1/3 and am clerking for a federal district judge. I didn't get a DOJ Honors interview.

DOJ Crim div lawyer here.

DOJ honors is very competitive even to get an interview. Look at the numbers of slots available, its not a lot. The entire program takes less people than a few big firm summer programs.

Hiring criteria seems to focus a lot on demonstrated commitment to public service and DOJ. Past DOJ/USAO internships can make-up for lack of prestige in law school.

Crim commitment is 3 yrs. You will probably get a detail to one of the USAO's for 6 months. Sometimes that time counts as part of the 3 yrs and sometimes it doesn't.

Public integrity litigates the most in the division. Fraud would be a close second. If you get hired, you won't find out which part of crim you got until next summer.

To the person that interviewed with SDNY: Getting an interview with them is tough, congrats. Getting a second round interview with them is even tougher, so good luck.

167- I finished top 1/3 at T-14 (GULC/Cornell/Northwestern), was an editor on a secondary journal and published, interned with a federal district judge, and am now clerking for a federal district judge. I am fully committed to public service and was honest about that in my essays.

I got no interview with DOJ honors. Any idea?

167- I finished top 1/3 at T-14 (GULC/Cornell/Northwestern), was an editor on a secondary journal and published, interned with a federal district judge, and am now clerking for a federal district judge. I am fully committed to public service and was honest about that in my essays.

I got no interview with DOJ honors. Any idea?

168-

Did you spend your summers working for free with DOJ or your local USAO? Or did you work for law firms? Did you get 3L clinical experience in court? There are just a lot of candidates for a small amount of honors positions and prior government experience on the resume shows a demonstrated interest. That can be the tiebreaker.

I spent one summer interning for a federal district judge. The other summer I worked for a law firm. I didn't do clinics in law school- I was an editor on a secondary journal.

Big 10 school (Top-25 USN Rank)
EIC of Law Review
Ranked in top 2% of class, summa
Won best note & a national award for note

Zero interviews.

170, I don't really understand the mentality at Justice about previous experience - and it's something that you hear from Justice attorneys, too. If you spent any time at a firm, it seems they don't want you. I don't get it... What's wrong with trying a firm and deciding (or at least telling Justice) that it's not for you?

It certainly seems like spending time at a firm is a problem -- I'm HYS, LR, solid record, did two stints with the state AG and one summer at a firm. No interviews.

i believe that last year civil rights interviewed about 75 people and ultimately hired about 13. 11 of the 13 had came from clerkships/fellowships -- only 2 straight out of law school.

173/174 - Does DoJ have a bit of an inferiority complex, perhaps?

173/174/176 - Maybe DOJ wants people who truly want to be at DOJ, not just people who were no-offered at a firm (I'm not saying this happened to you, but how would DOJ know either way?). I don't think working for a firm for a summer is a major problem if you have a demonstrated interest in government work from another internship during the summer or the school year.

It may also be the case that during most summer programs at firms, you aren't doing anything important, and DOJ knows that. I did two internships with DOJ and spent a summer at a firm, and the amount of responsibility given to me at DOJ was leaps and bounds over that given to me by the firm.

Former SLIP intern here. T40, demonstrated public interest (and extensive work experience including gov in DC), top 25%. No invite to the ball.

INTERVIEWEES FOR THE SOLICITOR GENERAL POSITION: trade places?

This is bad. Very, very bad (if top 1/3 at T14 can't find jobs, then wtf???)

177, that's a fair point. But more and more, there ARE firms that give summers serious work (I work at one...), and yet the anti-firm mentality at DoJ seems as entrenched as ever.

I can see rejecting someone who spent both summers at firms. It's different, though, when a candidate has spent the two summers in two different environments (say public interest and a firm, or a firm and government) and is able to articulate, based on those experiences, why he wants to work at DoJ. Most people aren't born wanting to be DoJ attorneys! My impression has always been, though, that this sort of candidate is at a distinct disadvantage.

3L - got an interview.

CCN, worked BOTH summers at firms, no government experience, no journal, no clinic, no demonstrated interest in public interest whatsoever.

Clearly it's impossible to know what they're looking for.

Does ENRD have a required commitment period?

What are the odds that it will only take another 3 weeks to make interview offers to 2Ls for the SLIP program? LOL

174, are saying that as an HYS student with LR cred, you don't have a job lined up as a 3L? Or were you fishing in case your offer falls through?

I had three honors interviews last year, and just started with DOJ Civil. To answer a few questions...
Last year: 185 people were hired out of 2,309 applicants.
The rumor I heard was that approx. 4,000 applications were received this year.
If you got an interview, congratulations! You made it through a big cut. Expect that the office(s) you interview with are considering 6 to 8 people for every open position.
Good luck!

not that my credentials are so great, but i graduated from a t-10 and two years ago i got 2 doj honors interviews but no offer. this year, (currently in a 2 year clerkship) i didn't get any. so sad...i wish they took into account prior applications...any advice? i really want to work for the doj.

I'm a current DOJ HP Attorney (USAO)

Last year I seem to remember a final email going out saying that all interviewees had been selected. In other words, its not over til its over.

There are other ways to make up for not working for the government during your summers - community service/pro bono is one, bar association activities is another. Anything that says you are interested in DOJ as a career and not just a hideout/stepping stone is a net positive.

Same as 180 (except at a lower ranked school)... worked at firms both summers, no government service, no public interest, no volunteer shit, nothing -- and I got a civil interview. I do have kickass grades and I think my essays were pretty awesome.

To those of you with DOJ HP interviews (or those with insight about the process) post on here: http://www.xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=1094066&mc=122&forum_id=2

Anyone care to shed some light on how useful spending your 2L summer with SLIP is for applying to the Honors Program?

2Ls out there, what are you doing about your firm offers? My deadlines are in mid-October, and I don't think we'll have SLIP offers from DOJ by then.

- current 2L

Can anyone give any insight into the interview process for the HP?

T75, top 25%, Journal, Moot Court, Mock Trial, Summer Associate at National Firm, State Supreme Court Internship, Current Federal District Court Clerk, I actually want to work for DOJ = No interview?

I guess I shouldn't have turned down that offer to go to Harvard Law.

191 ==> Top 25% at T75? The current flood of applicants with superior credentials may prove insurmountable for you but keep trying if you really want it. You might consider applying to other federal agencies. I started in another agency and transferred to the SEC [which is where I originally wanted to start] as I love securities work and the pay is much better than the GS schedule.

187-"no volunteer shit" - here's hoping the DOJ hiring attorneys see what a jerk you are during the interview and don't give you an offer.

DOJ attorney here.

A lot of the people at DOJ went to law school knowing they wanted to work at DOJ. It was always their goal. Some of them were paralegals with the department prior to law school. They interned with DOJ over the summers.

People with those resumes and good academic creds (and there are a lot of them) are natural choices for honors program interviews. Not only do they have a demonstrated interest, but they know people in the sections that are vouching for them.

Credentials are not the most important factor. It's who you know. And being a Republican, Libertarian, or Federalist won't exactly help you right now, either. Just like it didn't help to be a Democrat last go round. I was top 10%, LR, published, fed clerk, prior military, TS/SCI clearance, ten-point veteran preference--no interviews.....yet. 25 Sep. is not in stone. Some components give invites later. The DOJ website itself says this. Can't let yourself get down on this. It's like clerkships and grades. There is a random factor, and people less qualified than you may get hired. That's life. You can be a man and drive on, or be a Democrat and whine and steal other people's money to get back at them.

Credentials are not the most important factor. It's who you know. And being a Republican, Libertarian, or Federalist won't exactly help you right now, either. Just like it didn't help to be a Democrat last go round. I was top 10%, LR, published, fed clerk, prior military, TS/SCI clearance, ten-point veteran preference--no interviews.....yet. 25 Sep. is not in stone. Some components give invites later. The DOJ website itself says this. Can't let yourself get down on this. It's like clerkships and grades. There is a random factor, and people less qualified than you may get hired. That's life. You can be a man and drive on, or be a Democrat and whine and steal other people's money to get back at them.

194, if you essentially must have DOJ experience, as you suggest, what's the point of opening the HP interviews to everyone?

For some perspective, im on my 2nd clerkship. Last year, I didnt get an interview. Got a civil interview this year.
CCN Top 10%, No DOJ experience, public interest background.

We need to bomb clerkships back to the stoneage!

-DOJ Secure

193: Sorry about your no-DOJ offer dipshit.

I heard on Wednesday from Civil Rights. Top 5 law school, top 10% in class, public interest background, fingers crossed.

103 (or anyone else) -- what do people mean by "commitment"? Isn't the employment "at-will"? If I decide after a year or two in the HP to go to a firm, what would happen?

200-accepted a clerkship. Suck it.

202 --

I have heard that if you leave before the end of your commitment period, you are essentially banned from ever working for any part of DOJ again. I think there can be an exception made if you have a good reason beyond your control (like your spouse being transferred to another city).

Just received a notification tonight that I was "selected for consideration" for DOJ SLIP program.

Another e-mail is supposed to be forthcoming to notify which division(s)/office(s) is/are interested.

Instructions say you then follow their guidelines for submitting writing samples and other requested information that will be used to determine whether you'll receive an interview.

Still holding out for BIG LAW. I've been working at a federal government agency for the last 9 years and the only reason I went to law school was to transition out of government. But, here I am after 13 on-campus interviews, 10 rejections, and 3 call backs hoping something comes through yet still contemplating DOJ.

Federal government has its perks (lots of vacation time, less stressful/demanding work environment, maximum job security, the ability to actually have "a life." But, the obvious down side is the pay. After 9 years in government (with a Public Policy Masters degree from Harvard) I'm still only making about $110K. But, I have vacation time coming out of my ears and there's never a problem using it whenever I please. I also have no worries about billable hours, which is less stressful. Standards are pretty low in the federal government in terms of performance, so I am able to shine without much effort.

Good luck everybody with whatever options come your way...in this economy, you're just lucky to find a job. Worry about the "dream job" when the economy picks up. In the meantime, just try to find something bearable and relevant to where you aim to be, and try to transition into that job down the line.

Can any DOJ attorneys comment on the DEA ALJ? I got an interview with DEA (2nd choice) and have struggled to find out what exactly the ALJ (and the position I'm interviewing for) does.

Many Thanks!

Any tips for interviewing for a DOJ HP AUSA position?

Can anyone who has gone through the Honors Program interview process comment on the interview itself--what kinds of questions will likely be asked, by whom, for how long? Will interviewers be looking to see if they can get along with you, or will they be asking substantive law questions and testing your performance under fire? Etc?

I have a tax interview (T20, top 1/3, 2dary journal, current state clerkship) and was wondering if any current DOJ attys or anyone else can comment on the interview process itself. What types of questions are they likely to ask, and what exactly are they looking for? My credentials are inferior to many other candidates - how can we stand out?

I'd also be interested in some insight as to what DOJ interviews are like.

Has anyone who has to fly into DC for an interview there gotten their interview time and travel arrangements yet?

Yes, I received my travel itinerary by fax about 3 days after faxing them the information they requested.

Yes, I received my travel itinerary by fax about 3 days after faxing them the information they requested.

Did anyone who was granted an interview with the civil division learn what department within the civil division they were selected by?

Haven't heard anything at all yet, though at this point I'm thinking it's likely I won't be selected for an interview or otherwise. They are supposed to send out e-mails to inform those who weren't selected.

Me: Top 50% at a top 30 law school, law journal experience (getting published + editorial exp), otherwise, non-profit and judicial summer intern exp.

the DOJ Honors website says that today is the first day that they can start making offers. has anyone heard anything? if so, from which divisions? thanks!

Can anyone tell me where to find your status on the updated Avue Central website?

I interviewed with the Civil Rights Division, and in the interview they said first round of offers would go out today. Anyone hear anything?